It always seems like summer is never long enough. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the (mostly great) weather that comes during these summer months. Also, I hope many were able to take advantage of this summer season to spend time vacationing with family and friends. It’s hard to believe, but there are only a couple of weeks before school starts.

In the last couple of months, our Village has participated in a number of activities to benefit all of our residents.

1. On Monday, May 22nd Menards celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of their newly expanded store. Rich Reichert, a Thornton resident, is the store’s General Manager. Approximately 15 Thornton residents were hired as staff for the newly expanded Menards.

2. On Friday, May 26th we celebrated our 3rd annual Memorial Day Vet-erans Breakfast hosted by Jimbooo’s. Approximately 25 Veterans and staff attended. All Veterans were presented with a pin that signified their branch of service. It will be an honor to host the Veteran’s breakfast again in 2018.

3. Our Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29th was a great success with many residents along the parade route and at the Thornton American Legion Ceremony, hosted by Commander Joe Gallagher. Thanks to our Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Center, Thornton Emergency Management, and surrounding towns that par-ticipated.

4. On Saturday, June 10th Thorn Creek Senior Housing hosted our quar-terly Mayor’s Meet and Greet. It was a great success as many sen-iors and residents attended. Many took advantage of a tour of this great Senior Home.

5. On Wednesday, June 14th we celebrated the Opening Day for our an-nual Market in the Park. Please come and support the farmer and the fresh produce, and also support the various vendors.

6. Soltis Distillery is progressing to begin the distilling process in the coming weeks.

Don’t forget, Wolcott School officially opens on Wednesday August 23rd. Please observe all School Zones for the safety of our school children.

Enclosed in this newsletter, are the results of the Village Comprehensive Plan Survey. Thank you to those that took the time to fill it out. Each Department and Committee take these suggestions in to consideration while updating the Comprehensive Plan.

Our next quarterly Mayor’s Meet and Greet will be on Saturday, Septem-ber 9th from 9:00am until 10:30am and will be hosted by Wolcott School. All are invited.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and best to all,

Bob

VILLAGE PRESIDENT, ROBERT “BOB” KOLOSH

Village of Thornton Newsletter

Village Hall

115 E Margaret St Thornton, Illinois 60476 Phone (708) 877-4456

Fax (708) 877-4458

www.thornton60476.com

Hours Monday - Friday

9am - 5pm Saturday

9am - 12pm

VILLAGE PRESIDENT Robert “Bob” Kolosh

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR Doug Beckman

CLERK/COLLECTOR Debbie Pisarzewski

DEPUTY CLERK

Patti Ott

VILLAGE ATTORNEY Scott Dillner

VILLAGE TREASURER Arlette Frye

VILLAGE ENGINEER James Hus

Robinson Engineering

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ernest “Bo” Kaye

Kim Atkinson

Joseph Pisarzewski

David Hudson

Debra Paris

Maxine Reynolds

Visit us at www.thornton60476.com Meetings are open to the pub-lic.

Village Committee Meetings

are held on the first and third

Mondays of every month at

7:00pm. Village Board Meet-

ings are immediately following

at 7:30pm.

The Planning and Develop-

ment Commission Meetings

are held on the second

Wednesday of the month at

7:00pm.

AUGUST 2017

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THORNTON VILLAGE CLERK

Debbie Pisarzewski, Village Clerk/Collector

Patti Ott, Deputy Clerk

115 E Margaret St

Thornton, Illinois 60476 Phone (708) 877-4456 Fax (708) 877-4458

Hi Everyone!

Lots of stuff happening in the Village. If you have any questions about any of the following, please call the Clerk’s office.

Village Wide Garage Sale – Yes, I know we weren’t going to have a Village Wide garage sale in the fall this year but I’m so good at picking rainy spring garage sale days!! So the date for the Fall Garage Sale is Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For anyone new into Thornton, you can have a garage sale at no charge on this date. It is recommended you call the Village Hall (708-877-4456) and place your name on the Garage Sale list that is made available on line and at the Village Hall. Remember, if you plan on holding your garage sale any day before or after, you must purchase a permit at the Clerk’s office for $5.00.

Note: Market in the Park is inviting Village Residents to participate in an outdoor rummage sale on September 6. This is open to Thornton residents only, and you must register with the Recrea-tion Dept. by August 23. Call 708-877-4454 for more info.

Village Vehicle Stickers – By now, everyone should have purchased their 2017-18 Thornton vehicle stickers. Just a warning: the Police Department has started ticketing vehicles registered with a Thornton address that don’t have a vehicle sticker displayed. So please purchase your vehicle sticker. They are currently $40 for an automobile. (A police citation is $50.)

Energy Solicitors – Please, please, please, if you have someone knocking at your door who says they can save you money and can lower your electric or gas bill, ask questions!!! First and fore-most, ask if they have a badge from the Village. All solicitors over the age of 18 need to first, have a background check, and are then issued a badge by the Thornton Police Department to go door-to-door within the Village. Do not give them your phone number or any other personal infor-mation. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!!!

F.Y.I. – Remember, all pets that are allowed outside at any time need a Village pet tag – this in-cludes dogs and cats. The cost is only $2.00 each, and provides us with information to get your pet back to you if it becomes lost. Also, it is against Village Code to allow your pet to run freely without a leash or a fence; and when walking your pet, don’t forget your pooper scooper or plastic bag!! Village Ordinance prohibits pets in any of our parks.

Watch for Holiday Happenings coming again this year! Village Hall will be closed on Saturday, September 2 and Monday, September 4 for Labor Day. School starts August 23 – watch for chil-dren when driving. Thornton Township Day in the Park is set for August 24 at Nason Park. Stay safe for what’s left of our summer!!

Debbie & Patti

3

THORNTON COMMUNITY

Thornton Township “Day in the Park”

Free to Thornton Residents

August 24th 4-7pm

Nason Park Pavilion

TRICK OR TREAT HOURS

October 31st 4-7pm

SAVE THE DATE!

Holiday Happenings 2017 December 1, 2, 3

Even though we are still experiencing some nice summer

weather, we are already beginning to plan the activities for

Holiday Happenings 2017. Now is the time for you, too, to

start planning how you would like to decorate the outside of

your house for the Home Decorating Contest. There will be

categories for 1) Lights; 2) Originality; 3) Humor; and 4) Tra-

ditional. When you register, you will indicate which group

you choose. For now that’s all you have to do. But watch for

further details in the next newsletter.

-Thornton Historical Society

THE VILLAGE OF THORNTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS:

“A SUMMARY OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT THE HOXIE FARM SITE”

PRESENTED BY: DOUGLAS K. JACKSON

Special Projects Coordinator of the

Illinois State Archaeological Survey

University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

Join us on August 28, 2017 at 7 p.m. (114 North Hunter Street) to hear Douglas K. Jackson speak on the excavation and their findings. All are welcome; free ad-mission; refreshments served. You are also welcome to view the display in our museum of Native American artifacts many of which were found on the Hoxie Farm site.

Special Message from Thornton PD:

In recent weeks, the department has received numerous complaints about a company called “THINK ENERGY”. This company has been con-tacting residents stating they are an energy saving company with ComEd. THINK ENERGY is not affili-ated with ComEd in any manner. No THINK ENER-GY employee has ever obtained a solicitor license through the village, and as such, is forbidden from making contact with residents. EACH solicitor needs to go through a background check prior to obtaining a license. If someone is at your door telling you that their boss has the license, they are lying. Call Thornton Police immediately. If you believe your personal information might have been already compromised, you should contact ComEd.

4

TTHORNTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Glenn Beckman, Chief of Police Charles Szabo, Deputy Chief

700 Park Avenue

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm (708) 877-2531 Non-Emergency

(708) 877-4440 Records (708) 877-5525 Fax

SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION Wolcott School starts August 23rd and the Pre-K program starts August 21st. Our agency’s primary concern is the safety of the children and for that we need your help. Here are some tips that will make this school year a safe one:

1. SLOW DOWN and STOP TALKING. School Zone speed limits on Eleanor and Margaret are 20mph. Also, it is against the law to talk on a mobile device while driving in a school zone. 2. DON’T BLOCK CROSSWALKS. Unfortunately, we can’t get the railroads to plan their schedule around our school travel times and occasionally traffic backs up because of a train. When that happens, make sure to keep the crosswalks clear for the crossing guards to get the children across the street. 3. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CROSSING GUARDS. Village of Thornton crossing guards are trained individuals who wait for the safest opportunity to cross the children. So be mindful of them when they stop traffic and always cross the street with a crossing guard when available. 4. BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHERS AROUND THE SCHOOL. When picking up children from school be mindful that you are not the only person that needs to pick up a child. No parking areas (yellow curbs and parking blocks) around the school are strictly enforced for the safety of the children and for other motorists as well. More staff parking spaces were created to try and alleviate some congestion around the school at drop-off and pick-up times. DON’T DRIVE THRU THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE POLICE STATION. The parking area on the south side of the Rec Center/Police Station prohibits Thru Traffic. Many parents and children will be parking in that area and walking to the entrance of the Rec Center. Therefore, unless you have business at the Rec Center or the police station, you are prohibited from driving thru the lot. We appreciate all of our resident’s cooperation in helping us make this school year a safe one.

The Police Department submitted an an-nual report to the Village Board of Trus-tees in July. The following is some of the information contained in that report.

2016 Quick Facts:

92 Arrests

271 Cellular Telephone Use While Driving Citations Issued

93 Disobeyed Traffic Control Device (Stop Sign/Red Light)

96 Truck Enforcement and Failure to Tarp Violation Citations Issued

18 Summons/Arrests for Possession of Cannabis and Other Drugs and Para-phernalia

49 Arrests/Citations for Suspended/Revoked/No Valid Driver’s License

5

THORNTON RECREATION & COMMUNITY CENTER

Hours

M / W 9am - 8pm

T / TH 9am—9pm

F 9am - 10pm

Sat 9am - 1pm

FREE PROGRAMS

Play Pals Playgroup

Senior Pinochle

Hand & Foot

Alcoholics Anonymous

Senior Fitness Center (62+)

Scout Meetings

Ink & Toner Recycling

Warming & Cooling Center

RECREATION &

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Preschool Classes

Fitness Center

Co Ed Softball League

K-9 Training Academy

Kodenkan Martial Arts

Market in the Park

Senior Bingo

Five Play

T.O.P.S.

Party, Conference Room, Field and Pavilion Rentals

Table and Chair Rentals

Memorial Brick Program

PARKS AND GROUNDS

Charles P. Nason Park

Walter Diekelman Park

Mikrut Memorial Park

Hubbard Park

Skate Park

Memorial Park

Sharlee Dunlop, Director of Parks and Recreation Amy Potwin, Assistant Director

701 Highland Avenue

(708) 877-4454 (708) 564-5078 Fax

FALL Co-Ed SOFTBALL Mon & Wed nights!

$400.00 per team Sign up by SEP 6

Pumpkin hunts Saturday, October 28th

Ages 0-4, 11:00 AM $5

Ages 5-10 Flashlight 7:00 PM $8

Snack provided Please register by October 25

Market in the Park Every Wednesday 8am to 2pm through September 27

Aug 23—FREE Raffle & Cookies - $5.00 lunch!

Sep 6– FREE Bounce house & Resident Rummage Sale!

Weather permitting. Call to register or for more information!

Five Play Wednesdays at 3:30

$5.00 each - ages vary

Sept 13 Game Room

Sept 20 Window Art

Sept 27 Sand Volleyball

Oct 4 Playdoh

Oct 11 Win Lose or Draw

Oct 18 Dodegeball

Oct 25 Cookie Decorating

The Village of Thornton 2016-17 Annual Report is available at www.thornton60476.com. Here are some highlights from our department:

We are very proud of our Preschool program! 90% of students reside in Thornton. We coordinate with School District 154 to provide youth services. A new monitor was installed in the classroom. This allows us to send educational videos and learning tools wirelessly from the computer. The students also enjoy an occasional dance party at the end of class!

K-9 Training is available every Friday night. The Kodenkan Academy of Marital Arts offers instruc-tion several times a week ages 5 and up. We have a fun & successful Five Play program with a variety of projects, sports and games. We host several seasonal events including Holiday Happenings, Egg & Pumpkin Hunts, Concessions, and Family Bingo.

Don’t forget about our Fitness Center, ages 18 and up, Free to seniors 62 and up. We recently added another new treadmill to replace an older damaged model. A viewing station has been installed for us to better monitor the fitness center, parking lot and playground areas. This will help us respond quickly in the event of an emergency.

We are most proud of our helpful and friendly team of employees who continue to prove their loyalty, dependability and commitment to the recreational needs of the community. Take time for fun!

AUG 28– Sloppy Joes SEP 18– Enchiladas

OCT 23– Italian Beef NOV 13– Chicken

DEC 11– Mostaccioli

6

THORNTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

David Habecker, Fire Chief Art Schweitzer, Assistant Fire Chief

115 E Margaret Street

(708) 877-4459 Non-Emergency (708) 877-1506 Fax

Is Your Home Safe & Hazard Free? Do a Home Fire Inspection and find out. The Thornton Fire Department has one part time fire inspector. It is the inspector’s to perform a fire inspection of each business in town at six month intervals. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure public safety by identifying and correcting fire and safety hazards. When the inspector visits a business, he checks to see if any common hazards are present. Only businesses and places of public gatherings are required to have inspections. Even though private residences are exempt from any required fire inspection, it is still a good idea to perform a self-inspection.

This month we encourage you to do a self-inspection and see if you pass. Passing means that there are no hazards present or not corrected. Grab a pen and start checking. All of the items listed below are common hazards that pertain to homes (and most businesses as well).

Exits not blocked and doors open completely. No excessive grease build- up on stove or in oven. A working / charged fire extinguisher in the kitchen area. (ABC type dry powder). No extension or electrical cords under rugs. No overloaded electrical outlets. Extension cords rated for the appliance attached to it. GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) on all electrical outlets within 3 feet of sink. Protective covers on all closet light bulb fixtures. 2 feet of clearance in front of a fuse box or electrical panel. 3 feet of clearance (no boxes etc. .) around water heater and furnace. No gasoline or propane stored inside house. (Not even in basement) No loose railings inside or outside home. No loose carpeting on or near stairs. Smoke detectors installed and working properly. Carbon Monoxide Detectors installed within 15 feet of any bedroom. Working properly. Dryer lint screens clean and cleaned after each load. Policy of not leaving burning candles unattended. Matches, lighters, and firearms kept securely stored and out of reach of children. House number visible from the street with correct size numbers. Hot water heater set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit maximum. Bathroom shower or tub has non-skid strips.

We hope you passed your inspection. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 877-4459.

Fire Department Call Volume May 1st thru July 31st

Total Fire Calls: 84 Total EMS Calls: 78

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THORNTON PUBLIC WORKS

Bryan Roberts, Superintendent

321 E Harriet Street Office Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm

Maintenance tech is on call 24 hours, 7 days a week.

(708) 877-4462 (708) 877-1627 Fax

USE YOUR WATER METER TO CHECK FOR WATER LEAKS!

Most Residential meters within the Village will have a red triangle in the middle (pictured below), if this indi-cator is moving and NO water is being used you have a leak. If your meter does not have one you can read the water meter number before and after a 1-hour period when NO water is being used and if the meter number does not read exactly the same, you have a leak.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

Change dripping facets.

Check for leaking or cracked pipes.

Stop by the Village Hall and pick up a toilet test kit or put a little food coloring in the toilet tank. If without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.

The Public Works Department is responsible for nearly 20 miles of Village owned streets. The Public Works Depart-ment services and maintains nearly 12 miles of water main, 148 water main valves, as well as 153 Fire Hydrants throughout the Village. There are approximately 1,000 residential and commercial water service connections main-tained by the Public Works Department throughout the Village. The Public Works Department oversees and maintains nearly 10 miles of Village sewer main.

Fiscal Year in Review:

-Removed approximately 325 cubic yards of leafs from Village curbs and parkways over the course of our program.

-Installed, repaired or replaced 52 street signs

-31 Trees trimmed or removed from Village owned lots or parkways.

-50 properties were cut for long grass/weed violations per village ordinance

-Processed, located and marked Village owned utilities on 187 JULIE locates

-Replaced approx. 300sq ft. of sidewalks and put in handicap access to all park pavilions

-Approximately 8 tons of cold-patch was used for filling pot holes.

-Rebuilt/Replaced 6 storm catch basins

8

BULK RATE

U.S. Postage

P A I D

Thornton, IL

60476

Permit No. 8

POSTAL CUSTOMER OR BUSINESS

THORNTON, ILLINOIS 60476